Still Missing VA - Bellamy Gamboa, 39, mother of 2, Virginia Beach, 1 Jul 2018 *Guilty*

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Thursday, May 26th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9:30am ET) - VA – Bellamy Malaki Gamboa (39) (last seen July 1, 2018, Virginia Beach; reported missing July 2, 2018, car found 7/4/18; she has not been found) – *Lamont Johnson (41/now 44) (ex-bf) arrested & charged (7/29/18) & arraigned (7/30/18) with 2nd degree murder & 4 counts of contribute to delinquent/abuse of child. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Tried to get his confession thrown out-denied.
Trial began on 5/24/22. 12 jurors & 2 alternates (12 men & 2 women).
Court info from 10/17/18 thru 1/17/22 & trial day 1 (5/24/22) reference post #159 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-8
5/25/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 2: Prior to the video being played, another police officer (no name given) testified that he was called out to the home Johnson & Gamboa shared to do a wellness check on her after she didn't show up to work on July 2, 2018. The officer testified Johnson was cooperative, but said he didn't know where Gamboa was. Prosecutors played jurors video of Lamont Johnson confessing to killing Bellamy. A Sgt. police officer (no name given). Prosecutors showed Johnson’s full confession.
for more in see post #160 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-8
Trial continues on 5/26/22.
 
Friday, May 27th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9:30am ET) - VA – Bellamy Malaki Gamboa (39) (last seen July 1, 2018, Virginia Beach; reported missing July 2, 2018, car found 7/4/18; she has not been found) – *Lamont Johnson (41/now 44) (ex-bf) arrested & charged (7/29/18) & arraigned (7/30/18) with 2nd degree murder & 4 counts of contribute to delinquent/abuse of child. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Tried to get his confession thrown out-denied.
Trial began on 5/24/22. 12 jurors & 2 alternates (12 men & 2 women).
Court info from 10/17/18 thru 1/17/22 & trial day 1-2 (5/24 to 5/25/22) reference post #161 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-9
5/26/22 Thursday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: Sgt. Police officer, who took Johnson’s confession cross-exam.
for more in see post #162 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-9
Trial continues on 5/27/22.
 
# Date Time Type Plea Jury Result
14 05/24/2022 9:30AM Jury Trial Not Guilty Yes Carried Over

15 05/25/2022 9:30AM Jury Trial Yes Carried Over

16 05/26/2022 9:30AM Jury Trial Yes Carried Over

17 05/27/2022 9:30AM Jury Trial Yes Presentence Ordered

18 08/02/2022 9:30AM Pre-Sentence Report

link: Virginia Court Case Information


I'm going to "guess" that he was found guilty because of the Pre-sentencing hearing on 8/2/22.
 
Ah - finally an article.

www.wtkr.com

Jury rules Lamont Johnson guilty on all charges in Bellamy Gamboa murder trial, recommends 25.5-year sentence

He faces between five and 40 years in prison on the murder charge and up to a year for each delinquency charge. Later Friday afternoon, the jury recommended he serve a 25.5-year sentence.
www.wtkr.com www.wtkr.com

May 27, 2022

Warning: Details in this story are graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Lamont Johnson was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the death of Virginia Beach mother Bellamy Gamboa.

Johnson didn't appear to react when the verdict was read after about two hours of deliberations.
[.....]
For Gamboa's family, the reaction was relief.

"I'm glad this is finally over. We can move on with our lives," said Emmanuel Gamboa, Bellamy's father.

Family members sat through every day of the four-day trial.
"It was very stressful — a couple of sleepless nights," Emmanuel said.

During the four-day trial, jurors were shown video of Johnson confessing to killing Gamboa and video of him re-enacting where he put Gamboa's body into a dumpster in Chesapeake.

During closing arguments, Johnson's attorney used a Jenga set to say Gamboa and Johnson's relationship was unstable and he snapped. They argued Johnson should be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Prosecutors argued Johnson deserved to be convicted of murder.
[.....]
Following the conviction, the jury then recommended Johnson serve a 25.5 year sentence. The judge will rule in August [2] about whether or not he agrees with the recommendation.
 

Case file updated May 2022

Details of Disappearance​

Gamboa was last seen in Virginia Beach, Virginia sometime between 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. on July 1, 2018. She has never been heard from again. She was reported missing the next day, when she didn't show up for work in Norfolk, Virginia.

That same day, her gold 2005 Ford Focus was found parked next to a dumpster on Pickering Street near Lake Edward, four miles from her home. The driver's seat was pushed all the way back, further than it should have been for a driver of Gamboa's height, and there was blood and vomit on the driver's side door. Gamboa's purse, wallet and identification were inside the car, but her keys were missing.

At the time of her disappearance, Gamboa lived in a townhouse near Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach with her ex-boyfriend, Lamont Johnson, their twin toddlers, and Gamboa's two teenage children from a previous relationship.

A photo of Johnson is posted with this case summary. His relationship with Gamboa had been violent before; in March 2017, each of them filed for an emergency protective order against the other after two arguments turned physical. Both cases were eventually dismissed. On July 28, almost a month after Gamboa's disappearance, Johnson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in her case.

Johnson confessed that he had shoved Gamboa down a flight of stairs during an argument, then strangled her to death after she threatened to have him jailed. He stated he felt "relief" after her death. He used his work computer and his cellular phone to search for dumpster locations and garbage routes.

Johnson stated he wrapped Gamboa's body in a black comforter and garbage bags and put it in a dumpster behind a Dollar General and Pizza Hut in Chesapeake, Virginia. Investigators believe it was taken to the Hampton Landfill. They searched the landfill for a time, spending more than $50,000, but called the search off in early August.

In May 2022, Johnson was tried for Gamboa's murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The jury recommended a sentence of 25 years and six months in prison.

Gamboa spent most of her childhood in Japan, where her father, a Navy sailor, was stationed in the 1990s. She joined the military after high school, left it in 2000, and moved to Virginia Beach. She's described as a dedicated mother who was very involved in her children's lives. She was attending Tidewater Community College and hoped to become a licensed customs broker.

Johnson is awaiting trial in her presumed death. Foul play is suspected in Gamboa's disappearance due to the circumstances involved.
 
www.wtkr.com

Human remains found in Virginia Beach wooded area on Shore Drive

Human remains were found in a wooded area Saturday morning. The remains have been taken to the Medical Examiner’s office in Norfolk.
www.wtkr.com www.wtkr.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Human remains were found in a wooded area Saturday morning.

According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, around 10:25 a.m., someone spotted human remains in a wooded area in the 1300 block of Shore Drive.

Police responded to the scene. The identity of the remains and cause and manner of death has not yet been determined.
 
Tuesday, August 2nd:
*Pre-Sentencing Hearing (@ 9:30am ET) - VA – Bellamy Malaki Gamboa (39) (last seen July 1, 2018, Virginia Beach; reported missing July 2, 2018, car found 7/4/18; she has not been found) – *Lamont Johnson (41/now 44) (ex-bf) arrested & charged (7/29/18) & arraigned (7/30/18) with 2nd degree murder & 4 counts of contribute to delinquent/abuse of child. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Tried to get his confession thrown out.
Trial began on 5/24/22. 12 jurors & 2 alternates (10 men & 2 women). Jurors deliberated for 2 hours & found him guilty.
Court info from 10/17/18 thru 1/17/22 & trial day 1-3 (5/24 to 5/26/22) reference post #163 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-9
5/27/22 Friday, Trial Day 4: Johnson was found guilty Friday of 2nd degree murder & 2 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the death of Bellamy. The verdict was read after about two hours of deliberations. During closing arguments, Johnson's attorney used a Jenga set to say Gamboa & Johnson's relationship was unstable & he snapped. They argued Johnson should be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Prosecutors argued Johnson deserved to be convicted of murder. Following the conviction, the jury then recommended Johnson serve a 25.5 year sentence. The judge will rule on 8/2/22 about whether or not he agrees with the recommendation.
 
TootsieFootsie said:
www.wtkr.com

Human remains found in Virginia Beach wooded area on Shore Drive

Human remains were found in a wooded area Saturday morning. The remains have been taken to the Medical Examiner’s office in Norfolk.
www.wtkr.com www.wtkr.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Human remains were found in a wooded area Saturday morning.

According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, around 10:25 a.m., someone spotted human remains in a wooded area in the 1300 block of Shore Drive.

Police responded to the scene. The identity of the remains and cause and manner of death has not yet been determined.
Click to expand...
Honestly I hope it is Bellamy for her children's sake, so they can properly grieve and not wonder where she is forever..
 
Niner said:
Tuesday, August 2nd:
*Pre-Sentencing Hearing (@ 9:30am ET) - VA – Bellamy Malaki Gamboa (39) (last seen July 1, 2018, Virginia Beach; reported missing July 2, 2018, car found 7/4/18; she has not been found) – *Lamont Johnson (41/now 44) (ex-bf) arrested & charged (7/29/18) & arraigned (7/30/18) with 2nd degree murder & 4 counts of contribute to delinquent/abuse of child. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Tried to get his confession thrown out.
Trial began on 5/24/22. 12 jurors & 2 alternates (10 men & 2 women). Jurors deliberated for 2 hours & found him guilty.
Court info from 10/17/18 thru 1/17/22 & trial day 1-3 (5/24 to 5/26/22) reference post #163 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...irginia-beach-1-jul-2018-arrest.379940/page-9
5/27/22 Friday, Trial Day 4: Johnson was found guilty Friday of 2nd degree murder & 2 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the death of Bellamy. The verdict was read after about two hours of deliberations. During closing arguments, Johnson's attorney used a Jenga set to say Gamboa & Johnson's relationship was unstable & he snapped. They argued Johnson should be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Prosecutors argued Johnson deserved to be convicted of murder. Following the conviction, the jury then recommended Johnson serve a 25.5 year sentence. The judge will rule on 8/2/22 about whether or not he agrees with the recommendation.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your consistent updates on these court cases!
 
Looks like this was NOT a pre-sentencing hearing - but a sentencing hearing.

# Date Time Type Room Result
18 08/02/2022 9:00AM Pre-Sentence Report 9 Sentenced

Final Disposition:
Disposition Code:
Guilty
Disposition Date:
08/02/2022
Concluded By:
Trial - Jury


Jail/Penitentiary:
Penitentiary

Concurrent/Consecutive:
Life/Death:

Sentence Time:
25 Year(s)

link: Virginia Court Case Information
 
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